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Maybe Ben Saraf is going to follow the path of teenage teammates Egor Demin and Nolan Traore and change pundits — and fans’ — minds on his prospects.
Ben Saraf played one of his best games of the G League season, as he notched 32 points in Long Island’s 116-109 win over the Maine Celtics at Nassau Coliseum. This was Saraf’s second-highest scoring game of the season behind his 40-point performance from December. However, he got awfully close. Saraf shot the ball incredibly well, connecting on 12 of his 19 shots for an impressive 63%. He also shot 3-of-6 from three-point range.
Following the game, Saraf spoke with NetsDaily about his performance in this one. “I’m happy to be healthy and play those minutes here and get those reps. I felt pretty good outside; shots were falling. But, it’s the shots, and it’s the reps, that’s the main thing here.”
Indeed, the 6’6” combo guard from Israel has had a number of nagging injuries which have slowed his progress since being taken with the 26th pick back in June
Saraf has now played in 20 NBA G League games. Over the course of those 20 games, we’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly from Saraf. However, since his most recent stint in Brooklyn, we’ve seen him have far more good days than bad. Overall in the 20 games, he’s averaged 14.1 points on 43/36/82 shooting splits. He’s also averaged 4.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 3.0 turnovers.
ND asked Saraf about how he would grade those 20 games in the G League.
“I think it’s been pretty good,” Saraf tells ND. “I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better at the things that I should have, playing off two in the paint, ball control, and reducing turnovers. I’m feeling good about this process.”
Saraf spoke about his development in Brooklyn as well.
“It’s great,” Saraf says. “Of course, everyone knows, Jordi is a great coach, and all the staff and my individual coach. Just be under them and learn the game from their point of view; it’s great. It’s very helpful to me.”
Saraf capped off his impressive offensive performance by hauling in three rebounds, four assists, and even had a block to his credit. Looking ahead for Saraf, he spoke with ND about his goals for the remainder of the season. “Same thing as always, get those reps and get better as a player.”
Grant Nelson continued to be on a minutes restriction in this one. He played in 27 minutes, and that number has been creeping up. The minutes total Wednesday was indeed the most he’s played in his 15 starts since rehabbing his left knee for seven weeks. Before the game, Long Island’s head coach, Mfon Udofia, told ND that there was “no update” on the restriction but the organization was “very happy” with how he’s been progressing and his performances as of late. Wednesday’s showing was no different.
The 7-foot 23-year-old Nelson tallied 10 points, connecting on five of his 14 tries but missing his only shot from deep. He also hauled in eight rebounds, flirting with his second career double-double. Nelson also had one block to his credit, continuing to play the big man role well. However, in this one, there was another big on the team who stepped up in a big way – Chaney Johnson. Although 6’7”, he boasts a 6’11” wingspan and a max vertical approaching 40 inches.
The Brooklyn two-way had one of his best performances in a Long Island uniform. He entered the game from the bench and tallied 19 points, eight rebounds, and an assist. Johnson shot the ball very well. He connected on eight of his 12 tries. However, Johnson’s impressive day didn’t stop there.
The 3-and-D prospect who the Nets signed off the Cleveland Cavaliers G League roster also had three steals and two blocks. Johnson has shown himself to be a ballhawk, and Wednesday’s game was a prime example of that. Not only does he know how to pick pocket passes from the opposing offenses, but he can get a fair share of blocks. Johnson is the only one of the three two-ways who has yet to make his Nets debut.
Malachi Smith, the 6’4” combo guard, had another solid performance in this one. He didn’t finish near the top in scoring, as he only tallied 10 points. However, it’s what else he brings to the table that helps him shine . . He had nine rebounds and nine assists, coming very close to his second triple-double. If that wasn’t enough, he also had two steals.
The 26-year-old is someone to keep an eye on whenever the Nets fill their open roster spot, whether it be for a two-way deal or a trial 10-day type of contract for a team. His numbers and versatility are getting very hard to deny.
The other Brooklyn assignee beyond Saraf, Josh Minott, had a modest game. He connected on two of his four tries from the field for a total of five points. He also hauled in four rebounds, two assists, and played some good defense. After the game, Minott caught up with ND about his performance in this one.
“Any time I get to step out on the court, it’s a blessing,” Minott tells ND. “The crowd received us well today. It’s good to see the fan culture and what Long Island has to offer.”
It remains to be seen how long Minott may be with Long Island before heading back to Brooklyn. He was called up Thursday morning and will be available for wen the Nets play the Spurs. When asked what he’ll bring to the table for Brooklyn the next time he plays in the NBA, Minott responded, “I’m not really too impressed with tonight, minus defensive intensity, but just being locked in on both sides of the ball, and start with that. Everything else is a plus.”
“He’s made the transition pretty seamless,” Minott says of Udofia. “I didn’t get much time in Brooklyn before I came down here. To have someone like him just by your side and coaching you up, helping to bring me up to speed, just the terminology and helping me to show what I can do, for sure.”
Looking ahead, Minott keeps his goals short and sweet: “just proving myself,” Minott says. “I feel like I’ve really done enough to show who I am, and today, that was kind of it, just show what I can do defensively, offensively, and show the world who Josh is.”
Maine went on a 15-4 run from 11:20 to 8:31 in the first quarter before Long Island responded with an 11-0 spurt from 8:18 to 6:02 in the first. The Nets shot 50 percent (9-for-18) from the field and 57.1 percent (4-for-7) from beyond the arc to end the first quarter with a 27-26 lead. The Nets outrebounded Maine 12-7 in the second quarter to overcome a 9-0 Celtics run from 9:08 to 7:03 in the second frame and enter the locker room down by a single possession at halftime, 59-56.
Long Island took control of a tightly-contested third quarter with a 29-6 run from 7:55 to 1:19 in the third. The Nets scored 22 points in the paint in the third to match the team’s season high for points in the paint in a single quarter. Long Island also shot 61.5 percent (16-for-26) from the field and 50 percent (5-for-10) from deep to take a 93-83 advantage into the final frame. Both teams traded runs in the fourth, but the Nets held on for a 116-109 victory. Long Island scored 25 points off turnovers after halftime to set the team’s season high for points off turnovers in a single half. The Nets dominated the second-chance battle by a margin of 18-7 while outscoring Maine 62-34 in the paint.
Two former Nets — Keon Johnson and Kendall Brown — scored in double figures for Maine, Johnson with 10, Brown with 16.
Next Up
The Long Island Nets (15-10) return to their home court tomorrow night for a game against the Denver Nuggets G-League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Gold. The game tips off at 7:00 p.m. EST and can be watched on ESPN+ and the Gotham Sports app.